Method of telegraphing in morse code and apparatus therefor



Nov. 4, 1930. R. L. A. scHoEMAKER METHOD OF TEJEGRAPHING IN MORSE CODEAND APPARATUS THEREFOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20. 1928 Ofnven'orfl Jfczwmmz @ma schaamde.

fz a@ Nov. 4, 1930. R. L. A. scHoEMAKER 1,780,507

METHOD OF TELEGRAPHING IN MORSE CODE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR 3Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March A 20. 1928 R, l.. A. sci-:O EMAKER FiledMarch 20, 1928 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Nov. 4, 1930.

METHOD oF TELEGRAPHING IN MORSE coDE AND APPARATUS THEREFOR I' saPatented Nov. 4, 1930v il i r METHOD or rnnnerteriiine ii-iiiioiaisnconn AND ArrAieA'iUs'rHERiiFoa Application filed March 20, 1928,Serial'No. 263,0'i0, and. in the Netherlands May 20, 1927.

Telegraphy by Morse code is generally efi fected by means of the tappingkey known as theMorse key, or-by means of automatic or semi-automatictransmitting apparatus operating at a higher speed. The defectofthe'Morse key hitherto used, is that it can only be operated efficientlyby i vhighly expert telegraphists. lf the taps are notveryregularly'timed and proportioned rirregular intervals occur betweenthe symbols, ortlie dots and dashes are not of regular length, so thaterrors may easily arise in de coding. i y

The wholly Orsemi-automatically actuated transmitte-rs besides beingexpensive have the disadvantage that they are diflicult to adjust andare not easily portable, so that they are unsuitable for small telegraphoffices-and railway stations, and special difficulties .at-

f sages areinore rapidly transmitted than with 'Y `tend their use onships, or for the purpose of military communication.` Furthermore,

the Morse keys hitherto known.

' As compared with the known wholly and semi-automatic apparatus theinvention has the advantage of being` cheaper, thoughcavpable of morerapid transmission. Y f

rThese advantages are attained according 'to the inventionby producingthe transmitting impulse by causing a contact member to move over aseries of contacts. or a seriesv Y sions. The pointerand figures von thescale may be luminous so as to be visible in the of contacts tomoveove'ra single contact.V

The invention is characterized by the lfollowing features (d) Th@ MOrsesigns are producedby to and fro movement of a movable Contact member.(b) `Movement of the lfrom a zero position the outward andV returnmovement on, one sideof this zero position Vcausing the transmission ofone or more'iots,

contact member starts with intervals, rand the outward and returnmovement of the contact member on the other siderof the zero positioncausing one or `more dashes to be transmitted with intervals. By .1combining movements toeitlier side ofthe Zero position, completeMorsecodecharacters are transmitted. Y e

c) The vcombination of ldots,- dashesv and spaces of predeterminedlengthare automatis A cally transmitted as Morse vcharacters by the `60nioveinent'of oneycontact member on another specially constructed.contact member.v Uniformmovement of the movable contactm'em bei' overthe stationaryv contacts,`pro'duces makes and breaksofregular durationsothat mutilation of thefcharacters transmitted is practicallyprecluded.'

(Il), The `duration and uniformity of the movement of the contact memberare func-r tionsof the distance from the axis of rota?y ytionto-tliecentre ofthe handle used for manipulating thecontact member, and theyare also functions of the angle traversed when thehandle is moved fromthe initialv to the final position. v (e) The closing` andopening of thecircuit effected during thecontinuous movement cf the contact member, bymeans of a Contact passing' either over a contact striphaving `a seriesof insulating strips onitl (or vice-SQy versa) orovera correspondinglyconstructed contactbar. s f f n The position ofthe handle at which theoutward movement ends and the return" movement commences, is notonlyocularly S5 observable but can also be indicated by touch and by theear. A 'scaleis provided for visual observationvand for control kbytouch and by ear. It mayarrange springs or spring actuated memberswhich. snap into depres- Vtransmitting station the Morse messages'transmitted.

' (i) The "apparatus may als@ be provided W0 ter combined with arecording device and a standby7 transmitter.

Fig. 1 is aperspective view of the Morse transmitter.

2 isa plan vieil7 oi the transmitter shown in Fig. 1, with the handleremoved for clearness. y

F 3 is a cross section on the line U-U Y of rig. i.

Y'Figz -l is across section on the line V-V 5 is a plan view of thehandle. 6 is a perspective view of the Morse Fig.

*transmitter combined with a recording deof Fig. 6.

vice and stand-by transmitter.

`'Fig 7 is aplan view, with the lever and -pointer omitted.

Fig. Sis aA cross section on the linel/V*VV Fig. 9 is a plan view of thelever and pointer.

Fig. 10 is a front elevation and `Y Fig. 11 a side elevation of aContact ineinber for transmitting dots.

Fig. 12 shows a contact'member in iront f elevation for transmittingdashes.

" Fig. l'shows the movable element ior use with the contacts accordingto Figs. 10 to i2.

Fig. let is a cross section on the line x-ai fot Fig. 8.

j Fig. 15 is a cross section .on the line y-g/ *of Fig. 8.

fig.l 16 shows another modiiicationof the recorder in three projections.

'-"The-principal elements of the'apparatus f are a Contact membermanipulated by hand and a series of contacts over which thisconvtact'member is reciprocatable.

*The series of contacts, constituting a con v tact? strip,` inthcmodiiication according to Figs. 1 to 5 isdilierently constructed fromthat in the ni'odiiication accordinfr to Figs. c i is a C rlhe series.of contactsaccording to theV g lirstmodiiication (Figs. 1 to 5) is inthe `torni are so disposedl on the contact strip, that themovable'contact member passes unitornr lyover ,the conductingparts l andthe plates of a rigid contact strip 2 having plates oi in- -tjingmaterial. 3 le. into it. The pl -a 3, the circuit is alternately closedand opened with the correctintervals, for producing current impulsesaccording to the Morse code. The contact strip 2 is insulated except asregards its connection ,tov the telegraph line 1 by means of screws 5.

The movable contact.somilrises a member f the member 7 having mountedtherein a spring loaded pin 6. This conductive member 7 is provided witha detachable handle 1, and is connected to the other pole by means ofmembers 8 and balls 9, which maire contact with a conductor 10.

A scale 11 is provided, readingiroin 0 to 5 on each side of the Zeroposition in what may be called the positive and negative directionsrespectively.

The markings on the positive side of the scale indicate the positions atwhich the contact movement is reversed, for transmitting one or moredots with the proper intervals between them, and the markings onthenegativeside provide the same indication with regard to the dashes.

-A pointer 12 is fixed to che member 7, for indicating the position ofthe pin 6.

rllhe points oi reversal, besides being oculeMy indicated as described,may also be indicated by touch and by ear. For this purpose a spring 13is lined to the member 7, and snaps irto small depressions le' at theedge 15 oit the scale during the movement of r`ihe spring actuated pin 6fulfills the same purpose by engaging the depressions disposedapproximately half wayl betweenv the contacts 4. v

'In order to ensure practically effortless and regular operation of thetransmitter the operators hand should pass though as small a path aspossible when transmitting. This v is most conveniently eiiected if'thewrist is stationaryand thehand pivots about the wrist in the manner of apendlum. For this purpose the distance from the axis M to the handle 1should be; about 10.5 cm., and the `maximum angle through which 4thecontact member is swung should be from 37.5o to 40o.

The transmitter'is operated in f the fol* Ylowing manner. The movablecontactmember is moved by means of the handle from the centralopeningVoi' the contact strip 2, i. e.

from the zero position, so that one or more dots or dashesare'transmitted the contact being moved approximately to the centre of ashort or long contact strip or of an intermediate plate of insulatingmaterial, and then back to the zero position.

Theturning points marked on thev scale adjacent to the centre of theplates 3 oi insulatiiig material are denoted by even numbers, and theturning points adjacent to the centre ofthe Contact strips a aredenote-d by vodd numbers.

Ii it is desired Yto vtransmit a dash.' the lpointerlQ isrmoved by thehandle 1 from the zeroposition to position 1 on the vside provided withlong contact strips, and returned tothe zeroposition. If-twodashesare-to l be traiisinitted,-,consecutively the pointer 12 imQYed...tothe-.Same.sident.theazerqpostion to position 2 and backy` tothezero posif tion. In the same man'nerthe pointer .12' is moved to andfrom,-positions'37 11 or 5 whenV itis desired to transmit three;v fouror five dashes consecutively. The" samejprocedure is followed on theotherside of the Zero posi-y tion for transmitting dots, where theturning points are similarly indicated. Y

If it is desired to transmita combination of'fdots andr dashes, lforexample 1.-' o,

. rthe pointer 12 is lirst'moved Vfrom the Zero position to position y2(dot), then to position 2 (dash) ,Athen to position 2 (dot) andi'inallyl skilled in telegraphy ymay transmitMor-se signs in the dark: 'Experttelegraphists are able to-transmit Morse signs withoutfsuclr as!si'stan'ce,y however .the invention has the ad-f l vantage thattheturni-ng points areclearly indicated by vthe.'engagementofftheresilientv The modificationl according member inthe notchesl` u toFigsu vto 16y diiiers from'k that in Figs. 1 toV 'fmainly in that thecontacts and theV contactstrip are l diiferently constructedfflnI the`modifica tion according yto Figs.6fto`16 the movable contactis in theformy of a' contact cylinder 16 .rotatably mounted on the pin 17, thesaid cylinder closing; the circuit as it rolls overthe raised contacts18 of .thevplungers .P(Fig. 13).

The pinor contact lever 17 vis pivotally connected at20 to the pointer19(Figs. 8 and 9). Theleverl is Idepressed byr a spring y 21,"andcan-beadjustedfby a 'screw 22 provided with a lockfnut. The pointer..119 is swingable about the raxis-:23V fixed to A' the base24.` Y" Therow ofcontacts in thismodiiication is in the form of a Vgroup 'ofcontacts ora row of teeth. Inthe i-irst case the row of conl tactsconsists ot a number of spring'plungers P,`wl1ose upper ends A or B areadapted for transmitting' 'dashes 'or :dots 1 respectively.

` Each of these resilient contact members lconsists of 'a plunger P, alhousing 25 and 1a helical spring 26 ywithin the said housing. Thespring 26 acting onthe'iiange'27v of the vertically slidable plungerP-tends to'keep the latterin its uppermosty position, so that' theAContact surfaces 18k are raised. The. movement of theplunger isrestricted by the slot 291m it and thepi-n 28 iixed tothefhous# ing 2 5.The lowerend of the'stem 30 of the plunger is provided with'a'sharppoint 31. When the pointer' moved laterally by thefhandle' thecontactcylinder V1,6 depresses each plunger in turn -for 'a'. period depend`ingon the-length of the contact surface 18. This lengthdepends onwhether the contact is' adapted'for'transmitting dots or dashes. Y

Theshar'p'pointor needle p at the lower end ci the-plunger impresses crperforatestlie recording web bel'o'wthe instrument, 'and/m thisiwayrecordson the` web the"` Morse signs transmitted. l The vreco,rding*web`must' `thus y be `guidedjby the transmitter ina di`rect1on'-A which"doesnot deviate'greatly from thediil rection M--IOQ`The,ll/lorse1-signs appear on the recording web strung-together ingroups.V

The modificationsliown in Fig. 16 enables the Morse signs tobe .recordedin` rectilinear groups. f

For-this-purpose; instead offbeing"pro.`

vided Vwith `v sharp, pins 31, they plungers are providedwith roundedstrikers, which act on the t twofarmed levers '33. The 'latter arerotatable about thesharpridgesF10. 'These 'ridgeslQ are preferablyarranged on the barf39 jin such manner that theygareperf Voopendicul-artothe various leversjvhilethe connections 'between the sharpvridges "110v .eT tend :above them thelevers"33.f. f s vfhen'luponclosure of' one of the contacts the'striler 31ofvthe plunger Pisfdepres'sed on to: .one arm, ofthe lever 33; for example into adepression oron" a noseon saidlever,

refiere; lateral. 'guides for this arm is depressed' while thek arm on'Ithey n other sideof the sharpridge 40is raised? lVhell the -armof thelever is -not,depressedY bythe respective strike'l7 the otheri'armVrestsyon'a bary 42.` Ihefbar`4c2*is provided with ribs" 41zacting'aslateral guides during the downward movement of onearm andtheupwardmo'vementof thelother arm.-V These levers actuated yby theplungers l? are Vlocated immediately below ay -singlefarmed lever l341;

provided ywith v a markingfroller 35, the, said lever being rotatableabout the point '36',v and being heldin thepositiongof` rest by lmeansVof a' spring. f i l' If, owing. to 'the action of the plunger l. on

ion

imv

the'y associated vlever arm,thefl"ever"arms del! liected by theplungerfl?'-belowthev-bar 42 arey raised, Ythe leverw321 is rotatedabout the Y point 36, and the roller'35 isV raised and v pressed againstthe paper web Onrthe guide rollers 38,ewherebyfthe web isperforated.im-k pressed or ,inscribed onse long as the plunger l?depresses'one ofthe levers 33.

vEach plunger P'actson a1-lever, 33 asso;V

ciated with it; ",All the leversl33" act "On'the same lever 311,v sothat the recording web' is marked by the'lsame 'roller 35,- whicheverplunger is 'depressedand'whicliever lever 'n is operated.

.The markingirollern35 alwayspressed'KV with' equal `force* against theypaper web, in spite ofthe dilferences between the levers 33 or thevarying -distancesof the point of 'en-.-

gagement of the lever 33 on the lever 34C from the aXis of rotation, if,(l) the bar 39 and (2) the axes of rotation represented by the sharpridges of the levers 33, are so disposed that the roller 35 is alwaysraised to the same extent from its position of rest.

This is accomplished byso proportioning the arms 33 ineach case, thatthe upward movements of the arms 33 deflected by the plungers P are sodetermined by theV said proportioning and differ from eachother in suchmanner that in view of the various points of engagement ofthe levers 33on the lever 34, the roller V35 is always raised to the same extent.Y

The contact ridge of each resilient contact has a vshallow notchapproximately at-its centre, for indicating to the touch or to the vear`the turning movement. j

The slightly conical roller 33 is used for points of each-swingingsupporting the lever 19., This roller also serves as va Contact memberfor ra reserve transmitter-- For thisv purpose the 'roller 33 is guidedover a contact-strip 34, which "may bev dented.' Thisoontactf strip issubdivided, as described above, `into contactrmaking and breakingportions, wherein the turningfpoints are disposed approximately at thecentre of eachpo'rtion and coinc-ide'with the markings on thevscale. t

The turning mitter are made perceptible to the touch and the ear bythespring 12, provided with a roundedl headlengaging depressions in thescale. If, for any freason, the telegram, transmitted is Vnot recordedon the recording web below the transmitter, or if a breakdownoccurs,.for example, as the result of failure of one of the plungers P,the reserve transmitter can be used. Y

In the modification according to Figs. 6 to 15 two kinds of contacts areusedlfor transmitting Morse signs. These contacts-differ in that thecontactvridges B, for transmitting dots, are one third as long as the"contact ridgesA for transmitting dashes. In this modification also thecontacts for transmitting dashes and those for transmitting dots, areconfined respectively( to one or other side ofthe zero position (Fig.7). The vcontacts,

A and B are all connected by means of contact bars 35.

Morse signs are transmitted in the modification according to Figs. 6 tov16, by moving the lever 19 provided with a pointer l2 as described inconnection with Figs. 1 to 5. I-Iaving now particularly described andascertained the nature of mysaid invention and in what manner the sameVisto be performed, I declare that what I claim is l. The method' ofltelegraphically transmitting messages in Morse code by the means ofelectric impulses in which 'all the symbols and characters ,ofthelvorse.alphabetas. Well points .of this reserve trans# as every combination ofthe same are produced by moving onek single contact over one single pathof Contacts or lthe reverse, and wherein movement of the movable contactin one direction from the starting position at Zero and then back tosaid starting position, transmits a dot or dots, with .the properintervals, and its movement from the Zero position in the oppositedirection, and backto the Zero position, transmits a dash or dashes,with the proper intervals, combinations of dots and dashes beingproduced by combinations of movements on both sides of the Zeroposition. Y

2. Apparatus for telegraphically transmitting messagesin Morse codecomprising a i'ixed Contact unit embodying a series of spaced Contactelements, each of a length Ycammensuratc with the dot signal of thecode,

and a series of spaced contact elements each of alength commensuratelwith the dash signal oi" the code, relatively adjacent elements et cachseries being spaced apart, the relatively adjacent end elements of thetwo series being mutually spaced, and a contact member including alcontact Ielement and -mounted "it'or movement to bring the said Contactelement thereof to a Zerorposition within thespace between the saidrelatively adjacent contact elements of the saidtwo series andselectively into contact'with one or more of the elements of eitherseries.

3. Apparatus for telegraphically transmit- Yting messages in Morse :codecomprising iixed contact unit embodying a fseriesof spaced contactelements each of a length commensurate with the dot signal of the code,and a series of spaced contact elements each of a length commensuratewith the dash signal of the code, relatively adjacent elements or" .eachseries being spaced apart, the relatively adjacent end elements ofl thetwo series being mutually spaced, and a contact member including'a'resiliently supported Contact element, the said member being mounted formovement to bring the said contact element thereof to a Zero positionwithin the space between the said relatively adjacent contact elementsof the said two series and selectively into contact with one or more ofthe elements of either series.

4. `Apparatus for telegraphically transmitting messages in Morse codecomprising a fixed Contact unit embodying. a series of spaced contactelements each of a length commensurate with the dot lsignal of thecode.I and a series of spaced contact elements each of `a lengthcommensurate with the dash signal of the code, relatively adjacentelements vof each series being spaced apart, the relaselectively intocontact with one or morey thespace between the said relatively adjacentContact elements of the said two series and 'mensurate with Athe dotsignal of the code,

and a series of spaced contactelements each of a length commensuratewith the dash signal of the code, relatively adjacent elements lof eachseries being spaced apart,the relatively adjacent end elements of thetwo series being mutually spaced, and a Contact member including` aContact 4element and mounted for movement to bring the said contactelement thereof to a zeropositionl within the space between the saidrelatively adjacent Contact elements of the said two series andselectively into contactwith one or more of ,y the elements of eitherseries, each of the con tact elements 0f the two series comprising aplunger, a spring yieldably supporting the same in elevated position,and a contact upon the upper end of the plunger having a curved y jdepression in its upper side. I In testimony whereof I have afXedmysignature. f

RlCHARD LEONARD ARNOLD SCHOEMAKER,

